Contradiction with Exodus 20:3
Judges 2:12 notes the Israelites following other gods, while Exodus 20:3 commands them to have no other gods before the LORD.
Exodus 20:3: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 6:14
Judges 2:12 discusses following other gods, in direct contradiction of the commandment in Deuteronomy 6:14 not to do so.
Deuteronomy 6:14: Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which [are] round about you;
Contradiction with Exodus 34:14
This verse instructs worship only to God, calling Him "Jealous", opposed to the act in Judges 2:12 where they worship other gods.
Exodus 34:14: For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name [is] Jealous, [is] a jealous God:
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 4:24
Highlights God as a consuming fire and jealous, contradicting the following of other gods in Judges 2:12.
Deuteronomy 4:24: For the LORD thy God [is] a consuming fire, [even] a jealous God.
Contradiction with Joshua 23:16
Warns that worshiping other gods would lead to disaster, directly opposing the actions described in Judges 2:12.
Joshua 23:16: When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.
Contradiction with Jeremiah 25:6
Admonishes them not to go after other gods and serve them, conflicting with their actions in Judges 2:12.
Jeremiah 25:6: And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
Contradiction with 1 Kings 9:6
Warns against turning from God and serving other gods, which is what the Israelites do in Judges 2:12.
1 Kings 9:6: [But] if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments [and] my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
Paradox #1
The verse in question from Judges 2:12 speaks about the Israelites abandoning God and worshiping other gods. A possible theological conflict might arise when considering the omnipotence and omniscience of God. If God is all-knowing and all-powerful, some may question why He would allow His chosen people to turn away or why they would choose to worship other deities when God's power and authority are supreme. This could lead to discussions about free will versus divine control and the nature of human disobedience in the context of God's plan.
Paradox #2
Judges 2:12 mentions the Israelites forsaking the Lord and serving other gods, which could raise questions about consistency since other parts of the Bible stress the importance of monotheism and the Israelites' devotion to one God. This shift in behavior might appear contradictory to the covenant established between the Israelites and God earlier in the biblical narrative.
Paradox #3
The potential contradiction with Judges 2:12 could involve the existence of multiple gods. In scientific terms, it contradicts the monotheistic understanding that there is only one supreme being. Scientific inquiry typically relies on observable, measurable evidence, and the concept of multiple deities doesn't align with the scientific method since it is based on spiritual belief rather than empirical evidence.